MLS Player Rankings: Ola Kamara Rises to Top; Lampard, Keane Debut

Since the resumption of play in Major League Soccer after the Copa America Centenario break, a few attackers have gone on impressive scoring runs.  The Columbus Crew's Ola Kamara and New York City FC's Frank Lampard are two of the high-profile stars who have been on the national radar since the Copa due to their scoring prowess.  In addition to Kamara and Lampard, a few other players have flown under the radar since June 18 for their respective clubs. Four of the five new entrants in our MLS Player Rankings have caught fire in front of the net since the Copa, while the other is in terrific defensive form. Our player rankings take into account the last four matches a player has participated in, with the most recent game carrying more weight. Continue reading to see who ended up where in the Week 18 edition of the Bleacher Report MLS Player Rankings. Begin Slideshow

MLS Team of the Week: Feilhaber, Ilsinho, Doyle Star in Week 18

Major League Soccer produced a rare set of results in Week 18 as eight of the 20 clubs that took to the pitch were shut out.  Due to the high number of clean sheets, we found a way to put five defenders in the Bleacher Report MLS Team of the Week for the first time in 2016. Despite the high number of zeroes across the league scoreboard, there were a handful of solid attacking performances in Week 18. Benny Feilhaber, Ilsinho and Kevin Doyle were among the top attackers over the last three days in the North American top flight.  Continue reading to see who was named to the latest Bleacher Report MLS Team of the Week.Begin Slideshow

Kei Kamara Focused on Getting Revolution on Right Track Against Former Club

In advance of Saturday's Major League Soccer clash between the New England Revolution and the Columbus Crew, much has been made about the presence of Kei Kamara in the New England lineup.  Kamara, who played 41 matches in a Columbus shirt, isn't worried about facing his former side. The 31-year-old forward is more focused on earning three points to get the Revolution back on track.  "It’s not Kei Kamara vs. Columbus Crew," Kamara told Bleacher Report. "It’s the Revs against the Columbus Crew."  "I do have one or two good relationships with the players over there, but it’s only been a couple of months since I left the team," Kamara said. "It’s about me being focused. It’s not really too much about what goes on outside or anything else. If my team can get three points out of the day, it’s going to make me a lot more happier."  The approach may stun some outsiders given the tense situation in which the forward left Columbus. Kamara was shipped to New England five days after arguing with Federico Higuain over who should take a penalty in the Crew's home match with the Montreal Impact.  At the time of the deal, Columbus boss Gregg Berhalter told Andrew ...

MLS Player Rankings: Piatti, Diaz, Villa Surge Near Top After Week 17

Plenty has changed in Major League Soccer since the last edition of our MLS Player Rankings came out before the Copa America Centenario.  In the matches since the Copa break, New York City FC have surged to the top of the Eastern Conference, and a few attackers have caught fire in front of the net.  Because some of the top players on this list have played less than four games since the revival of the MLS schedule on June 18, we are still taking into account some pre-Copa performances, as we use the last four matches to judge each player.  Although many players have faded from the top 20 since the start of the season, one has been a constant near the top of our list of the best players MLS has to offer at the moment. That midfielder is the new No. 1 heading into the second week of July.  Continue reading to see who grabbed the top position in the Bleacher Report MLS Player Rankings after Week 17. Begin Slideshow

MLS Team of the Week: FC Dallas Trio, Pair of Rookies Shine in Week 17

All sorts of statements were made during Major League Soccer's four-day slate over Independence Day weekend.  FC Dallas caught the attention of many on a team level for their 4-0 thrashing of Orlando City on the Fourth of July at Toyota Stadium. Oscar Pareja's men held the Lions to zero shots on goal in the victory.  On an individual level, a pair of rookie scorers burst on to the national scene for New York City FC and the Montreal Impact. A pair of strikers named Kamara also celebrated the holiday weekend in style with two goals each.  Our MLS Team of the Week is shaped in a 4-3-3 formation to accommodate all of the splendid goalscoring outings from attack-minded players.  Continue reading to see who was named to the latest Bleacher Report MLS Team of the Week.Begin Slideshow

Grading the MLS Teams Midway Through the 2016 Season

If it feels like the first half of the Major League Soccer season has flown by, it has.  Before the league embarks on a busy July schedule in which most of the 20 clubs will play five or more matches, we wanted to take a look back at the opening four months of the regular season. We opted to grade each MLS squad in four categories. The offensive grade was determined by goals scored, diversity in production and attacking chemistry. Our defensive category took into account goals against, clean sheets and a variety of little things that give each club an advantage.  In addition to the two main areas of play, we graded each manager for his tactical decisions and talent acquisitions as well as the team for its performance as a unit.  Continue reading to see what grades were handed out to the 20 sides in MLS.Begin Slideshow

Philadelphia, Colorado Taking Different Paths to Reach Same Spot Atop MLS Table

If you asked fans of Major League Soccer at the beginning of the season who they thought would lead the Eastern and Western Conferences at the halfway mark, no one would've answered with the Philadelphia Union and Colorado Rapids.  Both clubs have taken different approaches to reach the top of their respective conferences, but each way has been effective. Philadelphia revamped its roster through the MLS SuperDraft and with a few young signings, while Colorado has relied on league veterans and a United States men's national team star to navigate the treacherous waters of the West.  Philadelphia was aggressive at the top of the 2016 MLS SuperDraft as it attempted to build depth at every position, a goal stated by technical director Earnie Stewart when he took over after the end of the 2015 regular season.  The Union used two trades and their original draft pick to select Georgetown University defenders Joshua Yaro and Keegan Rosenberry as well as Creighton University forward Fabian Herbers. Rosenberry has seen the most playing time of the trio and found himself in the spotlight for a stretch of matches in May after he shut down Robbie Keane, Giovani dos Santos, Didier Drogba and Ignacio Piatti in one-on-one situations. ...

Ultimate Guide to MLS Weekend: Goalkeepers in Focus for Union-Rapids Clash

No matter where the respective careers of Zac MacMath and Andre Blake take them, they will always be linked together.  The pair of goalkeepers, who have been intertwined since the Philadelphia Union drafted Blake with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 MLS SuperDraft, will face off for the first time on Saturday, when the first-place side in the Western Conference, the Colorado Rapids, host Eastern Conference leader Philadelphia.  Both netminders have taken a similar, but different, path to their current positions. Philadelphia's disastrous signing of Rais MBolhi in 2014 kept MacMath and Blake out of a starting role. MacMath was cast out on loan to the Rapids, but he didn't play in 2015. Blake has only started to establish himself as one of the league's top players at his position after the MBolhi debacle and injuries held him back.  Despite both careers' upward trajectory, the former teammates may not face each other for quite some time due to a few factors. MacMath is set to hit the bench once again thanks to an incoming goalkeeper. After the Copa America Centenario concludes, Tim Howard will assume the No. 1 position in Colorado. Even if MacMath is in solid form, the Rapids don't ...

MLS Player Rankings: Red Bulls’ Kljestan, BWP Surge After Drubbing of NYCFC

The one thing everyone who watches Major League Soccer was talking about after Week 12 was the New York Red Bulls' blowout win over New York City FC on Saturday.  The victory by Jesse Marsch's side was an extension of a solid run of form that has taken the club into third place in the Eastern Conference. Sacha Kljestan, who has been the epitome of consistency during the Red Bulls' run of form, has earned a high place on our Bleacher Report MLS Player Rankings due to his individual showing at Yankee Stadium.  In addition to Kljestan's surge up the list of the top-20 in-form players in the league, two other Red Bulls make their debuts on the chart after Week 12.  Our rankings take into account the last four games individuals participated in, with the most recent match holding the most importance.  Continue reading to find out which stars also landed a spot in our latest MLS Player Rankings.Begin Slideshow

MLS Team of the Week: McCarty, BWP, Kaka, Larin Shine During Rivalry Week

Major League Soccer's Rivalry Week may not have lived up to the hype in terms of competition on the pitch, but it certainly produced some interesting results.  The biggest eye-popper from Week 12 was the New York Red Bulls' 7-0 thrashing of New York City FC at Yankee Stadium. Dax McCarty and Bradley Wright-Phillips bagged a brace each in the victory. The impressive performances from the Red Bulls duo placed them at the forefront of our Bleacher Report MLS Team of the Week. Outside of the rivalry matches, FC Dallas, Colorado Rapids and Orlando City turned in solid 90-minute showings across North America. Each team has multiple players in Week 12's best XI.  Continue reading to see who joined the aforementioned players in our latest MLS best XI.Begin Slideshow